GB2120720A

GB2120720A - Pressure-tight tank

Info

Publication number: GB2120720A
Application number: GB08311153A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gamal El Din Nasser
Original assignee: DVT BURO fur ANWENDUNG DEUTSCH
Current assignee: DVT BURO fur ANWENDUNG DEUTSCH
Priority date: 1982-05-24
Filing date: 1983-04-25
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: GB2160115B; GB8311154D0; GB8432108D0; GB2120950B; GB2120950A; GB8432109D0; GB2160117A; GB2120768A; GB2160116B; GB8311153D0; GB2160117B; GB2160115A; GB8432110D0; GB2120720B; GB2160116A; GB2120768B; GB8311155D0

Abstract

An assembly for the pressure- tight reception of a packing column of an apparatus having heat exchangers for desalinating sea water comprises a container BE having four side walls facing one another in pairs (205/206, 207/208) and two facing end walls (209, 210) acting as a top and a bottom of the container. The end walls and a pair of the opposing side walls (205, 206) being fixed and the other two opposing side walls (207, 208) being movable relative to a support structure (TG) of the container located outside the container. The support structure includes fixed assembly platforms MP and vertically displaceable working platforms HB. Lifting tackle (HZ) is positioned on the support structure above the container moving the movable side walls (which latter are connectable in pressure- tight manner with the fixed side walls and end walls by means of latch members) to permit access to the opened container. Co-pending applications 83/11154 and 83/11155 are related. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container assembly for the pressure-tight reception of a packing column Technical field and background art The invention relates to a container assembly for the pressure-tight reception of a packing column, particularly of heat exchangers of an apparatus for desalinating sea water by the multieffect evaporation process.

It is generally known to construct packing column containers to have assembly and maintenance openings in peripherally disposed manner and to anchor the containers for stability on to a base or foundation. Even in the case of columns constructed in pressurised containers and which can have heights of up to 100 m and installed in the open to be exposed to adverse environmental conditions, it is conventional practice for such containers to be anchored at their base on a foundation.In the case of very narrow columns, for example those with diameters of approximately 2 m and heights over 50 m, it is also conventional practice to install them in a support structure designed in accordance with steel construction practice to be capable of withstanding likely wind forces with safety (see the discussion in Taschenbuch fur Maschinenbau, Vol. 2, VEB Verlag Technik, Berlin 1976,pea 907).

The assembly of packing columns, that is columns with regularly arranged units, in such lengthy/tall containers causes considerable problems, particularly if the units are constructed as a plurality of geometrically identical bodies, (quite apart from the fact that the manufacture, transportation and assembly of narrow containers with a relatively great length is far from easy).

These problems are frequently encountered in connection with apparatus for desalinating sea water by the multieffect evaporation process, because this apparatus calls for a large number of identically constructed evaporation stages which have to be installed and maintained within the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel construction of a narrow and lengthy container, which is suitable for outdoor installation, which is easy to manufacture, transport and assemble, and permits relatively simple assembly and subsequent maintenance of packing columns which are to be housed in pressure-tight manner by the container. Desirably the container is of such a construction that it will maintain its original characteristics over long operating periods and under adverse environmental conditions.

Statements of invention and advantages According to the present invention there is provided a container assembly for the pressuretight reception of a packing column which comprises a container having four upstanding side walls disposed in a first opposed pair and a second opposed pair; the opposed side walls in the first pair together with opposed end walls which form a top and a bottom to the container being fixed relative to a support structure for the container which is located externally of the container and the opposed side walls in the second pair being movable to open the container; latch means by which the opposed movable side walls are releasably retained relative to the fixed side and end walls to close the container in pressure-tight sealed manner; at least one working platform which is raisable and lowerable over at least one of the movable side wall locations, and at least one lifting tackle unit carried by the support structure to be capable of displacing at least one of the movable side walls to open that side wall from the container when released by the latch members.

Preferably the latch means comprises at least one group of latch members carried on at least one of the side walls in the first pair and the end walls by a thrust rod which is displaceable relative to the wall on which it is carried to engage or disengage the latch members with or from respective locking openings in pegs carried by a movable side wall to secure that side wall as part of the sealed container or to release that side wall for opening from the container. Usually groups of the latch members will be engageable with respectively associated groups of the pegs which are respectively receivable through apertures in flanges on the fixed walls to secure the movable walls as part of the container.Desirably the latch members are wedge-shaped and so arranged that when displaced by their respective thrust rod into engagement with the pegs they urge the movable side wall associated with those pegs into sealing relationship on the container.

Sealing means is preferably provided between each movable wall and the or each side or end wall with which the respective movable wall is to form a seal. Conveniently the sealing means is an inflatable peripheral seal carried by the fixed side and end walls.

In a preferred construction the support structure has four upstanding corner framework assemblies between one pair of which is mounted a first array of vertically spaced assembly platforms and between a second pair of which is mounted a second array of vertically spaced assembly platforms. The assembly platforms in the first and second arrays are located oppositely to each other and on opposite sides of the container with the container side walls in the first pair being disposed respectively adjacent to the aforementioned first and second arrays of platforms. Two working platforms may then be provided, one associated with each of the two movable side walls, these working platforms being carried between the two arrays of assembly platforms.Preferably there are two lifting tackle units which are mounted on a guide rail of the framework structure at the top of that structure and are associated one with each of the two movable side walls.

There is further provided apparatus for desalinating sea water by the multieffect operation process and having a container assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and in which the container of said assembly houses a column of heat exchangers.

As a result of the construction of the container and its support structure according to the assembly of the present invention it is possible, for the first time, to assemble and maintain the packing columns in the container simultaneously from opposite sides of the container. This is particularly advantageous if the packing columns are constituted by a plurality of similarly formed heat exchanger plates for example, as proposed by our co-pending Patent Application No. (Ref: FJW/GDG/PB3203-).

Following the production of suitable foundations the support structure comprising the corner framework assemblies can be erected and the frameworks interconnected by means of trusses and the like. When the lifting tackle unit or units are mounted on the support structure these units can the be used to facilitate the handling and the assembly of the container components (comprising what will usually be rectangular, flat or curved side walls and the top and bottom end walls), as well as the handling of the packing columns. After erecting the container on the foundations, the latter is fixed to the support structure. The apparatus is then ready to operate after the connection of the necessary pipe connections and other lines.

Preferably an inflatable seal is provided between each of the facing sealing surfaces, (conveniently constructed as flanged joints) of the movable and fixed container walls. This seal may extend continuously around the periphery of the sealing surfaces and be made from elastic material. If the seal is inflated after locking the movable side walls, the container is closed in a pressure-tight manner. In view of the considerable length/height of the container, the aforementioned latch members are conveniently subdivided into groups with the members in each group arranged for displacement on a fluid pressure, usually hydraulically, operable connecting rod. Thus, despite the considerable elasticity of the relatively narrow container, it may be ensured that the necessary seal can be obtained around the movable side walls.After moving away the movable side walls, the container should be freely accessible from both sides by means of the working platforms which are installed for optional vertical positioning within the support structure. In this way the installation and- removal of packing columns, as well as their maintenance is greatly facilitated.

Figures in the drawings One embodiment of the present invention as applied to a packing column container assembly for desalinating sea water will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container assembly which comprises a support structure; Figure 2 is a plan view of the container assembly; Figure 3 shows part of a locking system for movably arranged side walls of a container forming part of the assembly in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a part sectional view of sealing surfaces constructed as flanged joints between fixed and movable side walls of the container forming part of the assembly in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a view of part of movable latch members incorporated in the locking system of Figure 3.

Description of the drawings The container assembly has a narrow container BE mounted to extend vertically within a support structure TG which stands on a foundation 200 anchored in the ground. The structure TG comprises four corner framework assemblies TG, to TG4 constructed from frameworks 201 in accordance with the rule of steel construction.

The base of the container BE rests on the foundation 200 while the upstanding part of the container is fixed to the support structure.

Secured to the upper ends of the framework assemblies is a top frame 203 carrying a guide rail 204 for two lifting tackle units HZ which are located one on either side of the container BE.

Mounted in opposition between the framework assemblies TG1 and TG2 and also between the assemblies TG3 and TG4are, in each case, a plurality (in the present embodiment nine) of vertically spaced assembly platforms MP. In addition the support structure has two oppositely located working platforms HB1 and HB2 which are carried generally between the two sets of assembly platforms MP and can be raised and lowered by means (not shown) of motors and control elements into any random height position within their control range.

The container BE comprises four upstanding side walls 205 to 208 arranged in pairs with the side walls in each pair opposing each other in parallel relationship. The side walls 205, 206 are substantially flat, oppose each other and are located adjacent to the respective sets of assembly platforms MP to which (and to the corner framework assemblies generally) they are fixedly secured. The other opposing side walls 207, 208 are bowed or curved outwardly of the container and are located adjacent to the respective lifting platforms HB,, HB2. These latter side walls are intended to be readily removable to open the opposed sides of the container and are secured by means of latches SV. The container BE has opposed upper and lower end walls 209 and 210 which are fixed to the side walls and respectively form the bottom and top of the container.

Each of the removable side walls 207, 208 is intended to form a sealed joint when secured by the latches SV against flanges (see Figure 3) provided on the respective fixed side walls 205, 206 and the upper and lower end walls 209, 210.

For this purpose, the latches SV are uniformly distributed along the marginal edges of the sealing surfaces 212 of the movable side walls 207, 208 and the opposing sealing surfaces 213 of the fixed side and end walls 205, 206, 209 and 210.

Provided between the respectively opposing sealing surfaces 212, 21 3 of each of the movable walls and fixed container walls, is an inflatable (conveniently elastomeric) seal DG1 which extends continuously and endlessly around the peripheral region of the respective fixed side and end walls. A compressor (not shown) is provided for pressurising the inner chambers 21 5 of the seals DG1 when the walls 207, 208 are closed and secured by the latches SV to form a seal between the respective movable and fixed walls of the container BE.

As can more particularly be gathered from Figures 3 to 5 the latches SV comprise pegs 217 uniformly spaced along the peripheral region of the sealing surfaces 212 of the movable container walls 207, 208. Each of the pegs 21 7 is fixed to its respective movable wall and is aligned to be received in and pass through respective apertures 219 in the sealing surfaces 213 of the fixed container walls 205, 206, 209 and 210. Provided in each peg 21 7 is a locking slot or opening 218 and several of these openings 218 are in alignment and in the same plane to form groups of such pegs the openings 218 of which are engageable by wedge-shaped latch members 220 carried on a thrust rod 221 which is common for the pegs in the same group. Conveniently eight pegs are in each group.The thrust rods 221 are respectively mounted to be reciprocable hydraulically in supports 222 which are located in the vicinity of sealing surfaces 213 and are secured to the fixed side and end walls of the container.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the opposing sealing surfaces 212, 213 are formed by angle sections 224, 225 of which angle section 224 is unequal-sided and one side is welded to form part of the fixed side walls and end walls 205, 206, 209 and 210 of the container. The angle section 225 is also unequal-sided and forms in each of the movable side walls 207, 208 a frame for bowed or curved wall elements in the respective side walls 207, 208 (see Figure 3). In the closed state of the container BE the pegs 217 project through the openings 219 in the flanges formed by the angle sections 224 and the pegs (and thereby the movable walls on which they are respectively carried) are held in and urged to the sealing position shown in Figure 5 by the wedgeshaped latch members 220 engaging in the locking slots 218.

By displacing the latch members 220 into a position in which they disengage from the locking palte 21 8 of the pegs 217, the movable side walls 207, 208 are unlocked and can be moved out of their positions to open the container BE by means of lifting tackle units HZ. This makes the interior of container BE freely accessible from two opposed sides. Prior to removing the side walls 207 and/or 208 the appropriate one or the other of the working platforms HB1 and HB2 should be moved into the top or bottom area of the support structure TG to be clear of the range of movement of the associated side wall. Prior to releasing the movable side walls and seals DG1 should be relieved by deflating their cavities 215.

For reasons of completeness, it is pointed out that the fixed side walls 206, 207 are reinforced by U-sections 228 welded to the outer faces of those walls (see Figure 3).

Claims

1. A container assembly for the pressure tight reception of a packing column which comprises a container having four upstanding side walls disposed in a first opposed pair and a second opposed pair; the opposed side walls in the first pair together with opposed end walls which form a top and a bottom to the container being fixed relative to a support structure for the container which is located externally of the container and the opposed side walls in the second pair being movable to open the container; latch means by which the opposed movable side walls are releasably retained relative to the fixed side and end walls to close the container in pressure-tight sealed manner; at least one working platform which is raisable and lowerable over at least one of the movable side walls locations, and at least one lifting tackle unit carried by the support structure to be capable of displacing at least one of the movable side walls to open that side wall from the container when released by the latch members.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the latch means comprises at least one group of latch members carried on at least one of the side walls in the first pair and the end walls by a thrust rod which is displaceable relative to the wall on which it is carried to engage or disengage the latch members with or from respective locking openings in pegs carried by a movable side wall to secure that side wall as part of the sealed container or to release that side wall for opening from the container.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the thrust rod or rods are hydraulically displaceable.

4. An assembly as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3 in which groups of the latch members are engageable with respectively associated groups of the pegs which are respectively receivable through apertures in flanges on the fixed walls to secure the movable walls as part of the container.

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the latch member are wedgeshaped and are arranged so that when displaced by their respective thrust rod into engagement with the pegs they urge the movable side wall associated with those pegs into sealing relationship on the container.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which sealing means is provided between each movable wall and the or each side or end wall with which the respective movable wall is to form a seal.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the sealing means comprises an inflatable peripheral seal carried by the fixed side and end walls.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support structure comprises four upstanding corner framework assemblies between one pair of which is mounted a first array of vertically spaced assembly platforms and between a second pair of which is mounted a second array of vertically spaced assembly platforms, the assembly platforms in the first and second arrays being located oppositely to each other and on opposite sides of the container with the container side walls in the first pair disposed respectively adjacent to said first and second arrays of platforms and two working platforms are provided one associated with each of the two movable side walls, said working platforms being carried between the two arrays of assembly platforms.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which two lifting tackle units are provided which are mounted on a guide rail of the framework structure and at the top of that structure and are associated one with each of the two movable side walls.

10. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the movable side walls have a curved configuration and the fixed side walls are substantially flat.

11. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

1 2. Apparatus for desalinating sea water by the multieffect operation process and having a container assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims the container of which houses a column of heat exchangers.